1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
Choose one of the follow and explain why you have selected this kind of venue. proscenium, arena, thrust, flexible
In my opinion, I feel as though the play would be best portrayed by a thrust venue. This type of stage is much cozier and would be able to introduce the play's heavy message more directly. I feel as though this play should have a smaller stage and audience to help create a good aura. Proscenium seems a bit too showy, which would detract from the play's meaning. I think this play is too loud and intense, and a proscenium stage had almost a formal, distant air to it, much unlike the play's intimate and desperate mood. An arena or flexible stage would not be bad choices for this play, but I feel like this is a play you should generally look at from the front. These stages have a weakness in the sense that the audience circles the stage too much, which means some parts of the audience might feel left out and not get a thorough experience from this play. A thrust play is small enough for the whole audience to be involved.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
One challenge could be shifting the setting on the play. It can be hard to change the scenery of the play to signify the transition in scenes; however, I feel as though this challenge wouldn't be too much of a big deal in this particular play. For example, the transition in scenes can also heavily rely on what characters are present in each scene, so the audience can tell the scenes apart by looking at the characters. In this play, usually only two characters are featured, and at least one rotates each scene. In my opinion, I feel like this is the only major challenge for this play.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear.
I think Rusty would wear something a bit older and weathered to help portray the fact that he is an older character. Also, his outfit could be slightly more rugged looking to show that he was indeed a former cop and knows about how the police situation works. I have selected the scene where he and Val get into a heated conversation for the first time, and I think this would perfectly suit Rusty in that scene. It would probably be more on the casual side, like https://images.freeimages.com/images/premium/previews/1929/19299454-portrait-of-a-stern-old-man.jpg except without the beret.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
I feel like it should start dark to signify that is it outside at night when Val kills Willis. Then, it should still be dim and have a single light between Parker and Val. Though this is only for the police report, it should still be dim to show that Val is lying. It should lighten up slightly when Val is with Charlie to create a less tense mood at a bar. It should lighten up even more when he is with his wife to show how he is opening up about the truth. It should stay the same lighting when he is with his father and in the scene following that with his wife again. It should be a bit darker when Alea and Rusty are in the same room to show seriousness but not too dark since they are still in-laws. It should be this lighting when all three of them are together as well. On the court day, it should be decently bright but darken as Val progresses with his lie then finally turn pitch black.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another.
I actually feel as though this play should be relatively quiet. If there is too much sound or music, I think it would either detract from the play or give away the play's ending. Maybe there could be piano music for the preshow music, but this music should be relatively somber rather than relaxing or uplifting. Some minimal sound effects could be in the beginning for police warnings as Val tampers with the evidence because he did call for back up. Most of the sound action should be if the characters are whispering or shouting to really depict the play's mood, in my opinion.
Choose one of the follow and explain why you have selected this kind of venue. proscenium, arena, thrust, flexible
In my opinion, I feel as though the play would be best portrayed by a thrust venue. This type of stage is much cozier and would be able to introduce the play's heavy message more directly. I feel as though this play should have a smaller stage and audience to help create a good aura. Proscenium seems a bit too showy, which would detract from the play's meaning. I think this play is too loud and intense, and a proscenium stage had almost a formal, distant air to it, much unlike the play's intimate and desperate mood. An arena or flexible stage would not be bad choices for this play, but I feel like this is a play you should generally look at from the front. These stages have a weakness in the sense that the audience circles the stage too much, which means some parts of the audience might feel left out and not get a thorough experience from this play. A thrust play is small enough for the whole audience to be involved.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
One challenge could be shifting the setting on the play. It can be hard to change the scenery of the play to signify the transition in scenes; however, I feel as though this challenge wouldn't be too much of a big deal in this particular play. For example, the transition in scenes can also heavily rely on what characters are present in each scene, so the audience can tell the scenes apart by looking at the characters. In this play, usually only two characters are featured, and at least one rotates each scene. In my opinion, I feel like this is the only major challenge for this play.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear.
I think Rusty would wear something a bit older and weathered to help portray the fact that he is an older character. Also, his outfit could be slightly more rugged looking to show that he was indeed a former cop and knows about how the police situation works. I have selected the scene where he and Val get into a heated conversation for the first time, and I think this would perfectly suit Rusty in that scene. It would probably be more on the casual side, like
https://images.freeimages.com/images/premium/previews/1929/19299454-portrait-of-a-stern-old-man.jpg except without the beret.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
I feel like it should start dark to signify that is it outside at night when Val kills Willis. Then, it should still be dim and have a single light between Parker and Val. Though this is only for the police report, it should still be dim to show that Val is lying. It should lighten up slightly when Val is with Charlie to create a less tense mood at a bar. It should lighten up even more when he is with his wife to show how he is opening up about the truth. It should stay the same lighting when he is with his father and in the scene following that with his wife again. It should be a bit darker when Alea and Rusty are in the same room to show seriousness but not too dark since they are still in-laws. It should be this lighting when all three of them are together as well. On the court day, it should be decently bright but darken as Val progresses with his lie then finally turn pitch black.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another.
I actually feel as though this play should be relatively quiet. If there is too much sound or music, I think it would either detract from the play or give away the play's ending. Maybe there could be piano music for the preshow music, but this music should be relatively somber rather than relaxing or uplifting. Some minimal sound effects could be in the beginning for police warnings as Val tampers with the evidence because he did call for back up. Most of the sound action should be if the characters are whispering or shouting to really depict the play's mood, in my opinion.